University of Massachusetts-Boston Top Questions

Looking back, I would tell myself two words: "Try Harder". During the final stretch oh high school, I started to slack off and not work to my full potential. Those bad habits followed me to the first semester of college, making my GPA less impressive than it was in high school. I needed to try harder to acheive my educational goals, especially when I am in the tough spot of being unsure of what I want to do with my future. If I had tried harder, the transition in the school work load would have been easier than I made it out to be, and I could have been more successful than I was.

I would tell myself to go to community college first. It so much more financially responsible if you don't know exactly what you want to do in life because then you can complete all your core courses first while figuring out what you want to do with your life and then when that is figured out you can find a college you really like go live on campus and have the real college experince, graduate less in debt than most people and most likely finish on time!

I would advice myself to study more and spend less time on Facebook. I would get to know my teachers better to establish connections to getting know the college life. I would be more invovled with the student body and join more clubs and do more after school activities.

There are many things I might say to my young self, if given the chance. I might try to convince myself of the importance of a focused goal and of reaching my full academic potential; one I did not even realize existed at the time. As a 31 year old mother of two, with limited resources and a great deal of educational debt, this little speech might have made my current situation a bit less daunting. However, my decision to enter into a speech language pathology program is the culmination of experiences in my life, personal, professional and educational. While my journey to arrive here has not been smooth, it has been those bumps, detours and rest stops where real life has touched me that can not be explained, they must be experienced. If I arrived at this point without experiencing the feeling of helping a child with a disability to succeed or watching the complete change in a child, not only in his speech but his entire being after given speech therapy, I might not feel the passion I do now. If given the chance to speak to my young self, I would simply tell her to regret nothing.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now I would inform myself of the amount of seriousness that I needed to acquire in order to be a successful college student. In high school it was not uncommon for me to miss class, lack in completing assignments, and rebel against authority. Now as a mature adult I have found that it is more beneficial to be focused on my education eliminating all the mistakes I made in high school. For instance now that I am focused on earning my degree I have not missed one assignment . I also attend class regularly and instead of rebelling against authority I prefer to work with and appreciate the help they provide.

With an attempt of graduating high school a year early after doubling all high school courses up to my senior year, I was left with one class and a work study. My work study consisted of 10 hours every school day working in place of school time. With eight other siblings my parents were supporting I really needed to save up for college. This is the moment I would go back and change; I would never have gone to Becker College. Although I loved the school and learned a lot, I spent every last cent I had worked so hard for and had to transfer once I ran out of money. I worked 30hours/week going to school full-time and missed out on everything the school had to offer. Because both of my parents make what the federal government considers too much, I do not qualify for financial aid, despite supporting myself. I would have told myself how hard it is working full time and going to school full-time is. I will be working the rest of my life; I wish I had told myself to enjoy some aspect of life a little bit more than I had.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell my highschool self to, do what you feel once you get there. As a new student, adjusting to a new environment, you should have the freedom and privelage to explore your options before narrowing down your choices. Take your time! As a freshmen, take classes that intrigue you, spark your interest, and that you may find FUN! As a new student, you may feel nervous, insecure, or unsure, but that's normal! You want to make your first year as easy as possible; to get As, to make new friends, to become familiar with your new environment. You want to make your adjustment a breeze. Don't take classes you know you don't like! Its your first year, so have fun! Take classes that interest you and that you know you will succeed in. Do what feels right for you! Do not take others people opinion as your own, because only you know what you want and how you want it. Communicate with your professors, advisors, and faculty! They can be great guidance and help towards what you want. Take apart of the school community; ie. jobs, volunteer, social activities.

If I could go back to when I was a senior in high school knowing everything I know now, I would tell myself to relax! Instead of really enjoying senior year I, along with the majority of my peers, was pulling my hair out trying to find the best schools, with the best programs, for the best price, when in actuality I had nothing to worry about. I picked a great school and I wouldn't change my decision still to this day. Most high school seniors are extremely well equiped with the tools, resources, outlets, and support that they need to make this transition, but it such an overwhelming time that they usually let it get the best of them (as I did). I would tell myself to count to 10 and just breathe. I would reassure myself that I was doing great and that I had nothing to worry about, because in reality I really didn't. Everything turned out even better than I expected it would (except for the several bald spots that resulted from senior year, but rest assured the hair is growing back =D)!

Take your time, youre young and you have plenty of time for school.

Keep an open mind about your future, sometimes the paths we start on prove to be less then what we want. With that in mind, explore all the school has to offer; clubs, work experience, social gatherings, exhibits and concerts, these will give you the opportunities to meet a great variety of your fellow students. Take classes in as many areas of interest as you can, this will help you to expand your options and you might just find out that knowledge is fun. Be serious about your studies, this is why you are here, but have fun too, don't hide in your room, study in the library, and study halls. Join study groups and check out the tutoring services before you start having trouble. Try to stay on top of the work, have it ready when it is due and pass everything in on time. Call your parents....for more then just money, connecting with home can help keep you grounded.